Gatwick to Reading
 

When I last traveled, I was able to go from Reading to Gatwick by railroad and not even leave the airport. I've run several "Plan Your Journey" searches, but all of them show I must go into London. Am I missing something, or is this the case now?

Thank you.

What website are you using - some trains do the journey w/o any changes (and others do the journey either traveling or not traveling into central London).

The direct trains run once an hour

check http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

Depending what time you arrive at Reading, it's usually quicker to change somewhere else (sometimes even by getting a tube across London) than to wait nigh on an hour for the next direct train. And there are currently no direct trains on Sundays.

So most of the trains shown on the National Rail site will involve changing. Except on Sundays, it's then up to you whether to hang around Reading to avoid changing.

Few of us would see the point.

I <i>think</i> you used your previous experience Reading > LGW just for illustration. But the title indicates you want to travel from LGW to Reading. Right?

Depending on what time you catch the train at LGW your fastest/easiest options will be either direct to Reading w/ no changes, or a one-transfer journey, changing at Redhill.

The other option you may have found involves train to Victoria, tube to Paddington and train to Reading. This takes about the same time as going via Redhill - but is a LOT more hassle.

And are you putting in dates too far ahead for the database? Put today's date into National Rail and it shows hourly direct services, and intermediate changing services taking about 30-45 minutes longer.

Thanks for your responses. In the past I've stayed in Reading the night before I'm to leave for home on a Saturday. It always took about an hour to arrive in Gatwick from Reading. This time I can't find a train arriving in Gatwick airport. Maybe it is because I'm looking too far ahead. I'll try putting in a Saturday's date closer to today. Thanks again.